THE number of jobless in Bury has increased for the first time in five months.

Latest seasonally-adjusted figures show the borough's claimant count for January was 2,151, a sharp rise of 283 compared to the previous month.

January's claimant count comprises 1,645 males and 506 females. The unemployment rate for the borough has also gone up, from 1.7 per cent to the new figure of 1.9 per cent.